Bridle-bit.



J. 0. BASS.

BRlDLE BIT.

APPLlCATlON FILED FEB. 20. I915.

1,16%541. Patented Jan.1l,1916.

JAMES 0. BASS, F TULIA, TEXAS.

BRIDLE-BIT.

Application filed February 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES O. BASS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulia, in the county of Swisher and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bridle bits, more particularly to the bridle bits known as curb bridle bits, and has for one of its objects to provide means whereby the curb loop or strap is prevented from engaging the lips of the horse when strain is applied to the driving reins.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described, and then specifically pointed out in the claim; and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with a portion of a driving rein, a portion of one of the cheek straps, and the curb strap attached thereto with the device in the position it will occupy when strain is applied to the driving rein; Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating a modification in the construction.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The ordinary bridle bit is constructed with a strap loop at the upper end of each of its side members, the cheek strap and the curb strap being attached to this loop, and when strain is applied to the driving rein the curb strap is liable to move downwardly and engage the lips of the horse and annoy him and frequently cause abrasion, and to obviate this annoyance is the principal obj ect of the present invention.

For the purpose of lllustration, the 1m-- proved device is shown applied to a conventional bridle bit comprising the transverse bar 10 having the upwardly directed central loop or bend 11 and the side bars 12, the bar 101l being located intermediate the ends of the side bars, as shown in Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 9,618.

At their upper ends, the side bars are formed with a strap receiving loop 13 and at their lower ends with a driving rein receiving loop 14. By reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that one of the cheek straps, a portion of one of which is indicated at 15, is connected to the loop 13, while one of the driving reins, a portion of which is indicated at 16, is coupled to the loop 14, and the curb strap, indicated conventionally at 17, is likewise coupled to the loop 13.

In the improved device, a stop member 18 is formed within the loop 13 and operates to support the curb strap 17 in elevated position when strain is applied to the driving rein, which strain causes the bit to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. This figure clearly illustrates the desirability of the stops 18, and illustrates the fact that the curb strap is supported a suflicient distance above the bar 1011 to prevent the curb strap from engaging the lips of the horse adjacent to the bar.

When the improvement is applied to the bits when manufactured the member 18 will be formed integral with the loop 13 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but may be readily applied to bits already manufactured by inserting the member 18 in a dovetailed groove as shown in Fig. 3 and connecting them thereto by brazing.

The improved device is simple in construction and adds materially to the efficiency and utility of bridle bits of this character, and efficiently obviates all tendency of the curb strap to annoy the horse or cause the abrasion of the lips no matter how severely the curb bit may be applied and no matter how much the horse may resist the action of the bit.

The stop member 18 extending only part way into the loop 13, does not interfere with the ordinary uses of the loop.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is z A bridle bit including cheek bars connected near one end by a mouth bar, each of said cheek bars having a loop at one end adapted to receive the cheek straps and the curb members and with means at their other ends Patented J an. 11, 1916. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

JAMES 0. BASS. he

adapted to receive the driving reins, and a stop extending into each of the curb receiving loops and directed in substantial alinement with the cheek bars, whereby the curb members are prevented from contacting with the lips of a horse when strain is applied to the driving reins.

Witnesses:

J. R. HANKINS, JAMES FRYE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

